Hello! I’m Kelsey.
Today, I’m excited to share a project with you that helps us connect creatively with friends, even from far away. It’s called “Drawing To Listen.”
Drawing to listen is a way to connect with a friend by listening closely and visualizing something meaningful to them—through drawing!
If you prefer to follow along using my videos, click here.
All you need is:
A friend who’s up for a creative connection project
A piece of paper
Something to draw with like a pen, pencil, or marker
An object that’s meaningful to you but that the other person hasn’t seen before. It could be anything—from a favorite mug or cozy slippers to a unique memento. A memento is an object that reminds you of a special person or event.
The first thing you need to do is arrange a time and meeting place. If you’re far away from each other, you can set up a video call with your friend. Each of you should have your supplies ready, along with the object you plan to describe.
Important: Keep your objects hidden from each other until the end of the project!
Next, decide who will be the describer first and who will be the drawer.
Describer’s Role: You will be describing your hidden object, being careful not to say what it is. I recommend starting with the general shape, then moving on to more specific details, like color and texture.
Drawer’s Role: You will be listening closely to the describer and drawing what you hear. Do your best to follow the description, and remember: You don’t need to be a skilled artist. This project isn’t just about drawing—it’s about deep listening and connecting with someone in a unique way. By seeing and drawing something special from your friend’s everyday life, you get a little window into their world.
To give you an idea of how this works, I practiced with my friend Noa. Here’s what happened:
Noa’s Instructions: She described her object as a yellow circle with a black half-circle in it at the bottom. Inside the black shape is a white line that goes all the way across. She added that there were two brown “moon shapes” above the black section, and a white half-circle at the top with an upside-down teardrop attached.
Following her instructions, I drew based on what I heard, trying to visualize her object with my hands and imagination.
Ready to give it a try?
First, take turns being the Describer and the Drawer.
When you’re finished, and before the big reveal, share a few words about why your object is special to you.
Noa told me, “This is important to me because you gave it to me. It’s always on my computer when I do homework.”
Hearing that added so much meaning to the experience.
When you’re ready, count down—3, 2, 1—and reveal the objects you described.
It’s a fun moment to compare your drawing to the actual object and see how closely you captured it.
Thank you for stepping out and connecting creatively!
Did you discover anything new about your friend? Did you uncover any hidden listening superpowers you’ve always had within you?
I hope this project brought you and your friend closer—both to each other and to your own sense of “OK.”
If you’d like to share your reveals as side-by-side comparisons and inspire others to explore creative ways of connecting, click the link below.
